It's been a week now-
since the first day of school for this guy!
One of the hardest weeks I can remember in a long time.
I let it get to me.
I spent the summer worrying about a new school, so many changes, jr. high in general, leaving the comfort of the special ed. teachers we know so well. Trent is not your typical kid & definitely not your typical special ed. student, not to me anyway.
I was right. My worries came to life. I tried so hard to prevent it. I called & stopped in & visited & introduced Trent to his new teachers. We went into the special ed. office & tried to communicate what his & our needs were. To PLEASE prep his many teachers about his Aspergers & Tourrette syndrome, OCD etc. I know this all sounds really difficult- but it's not. It's about compassion.
Trent is such a sweetie really. He just has these- quirks. If you know about them it's not that big of a deal & they don't disrupt other kids. Kids are the best- 4 out of 5 times that there is a negative experience it's not from another kid- it's an ignorant adult.
That's what happened.
A couple of ignorant adults, acted like ignorant adults & I am so disappointed in the whole human race. Okay, okay I do frequently over exaggerate, but still I just couldn't believe it.
I just can't understand how adults can be so mean?
He was teased into a frenzy, (aspergers kids don't typically understand teasing) called stupid, asked to spell Gullible, told to shut up, stop it, move seats, leave class, staring- people constantly staring- oh gosh. I was so mad. SO MAD
(p.s. he was not called stupid by a teacher- but yes it was an adult)
Believe it or not- one of his teachers had never ever heard of Tourette syndrome?
I guess we are over saturated with it here- but still I was surprised that an educator? There are a couple other students at his new charter school with Tourette & many others with Aspergers - sigh.
It's all taken care of now.
I think- it's a new week.
lots of apologies & the special ed. team is very apologetic & frankly they are doing their best.
They have already all fallen for the kid- and I can tell that it's going to get better.
Big sigh.
I cried & cried & visited the school again.
I blabbed my mouth off about it to anyone who would listen (while sobbing of course.)
I gave a presentation on Tourette syndrome to his math class- the kids were awesome, and now the special ed team has every thing (all paper work & explanations to the teachers- kind of like I asked them to do?) To be fair- these are fantastic ladies!! Just like all other educators- overworked, understaffed & trying their hardest.
Through it all - Trent is so happy.
He has hardly noticed it all. He was really stressed & uncomfortable of course, but he has totally forgotten & thrilled to go to school- well maybe not thrilled, but he likes it. He loves the uniform, the 4 vending machines (serious OCD over the vending machines! but if he has a good day & turns in all assignments he gets some change for the machine.)
He loves having a locker! 9 different classes & teachers, air conditioning- lunch in the big gym.
And
He is making friends.
He went there- only knowing one other student (girl in 9th grade) in the whole school.
TRENT YOU ARE SO BRAVE, SO KIND, SUCH A GREAT BOY.
I know it's hard.
I want so bad to take this away & make it all better.
But- I have learned so much this week.
I have learned that-- I can't always protect you. That YOU can do hard thing, but that you need practice at doing hard things. All these experiences will help you become a stronger, happier adult.
Most of all- I learned that all of these experiences are harder on me than on you.
I'm so glad you are my boy.
all in all- if I could, I still would take it all away.
